Fox Air DH Photo Epic

Aug 15, 2013 at 2:21
by Colin Meagher  
Getting a little Whip Off practice in during the Air DH.
  Getting a little Whip Off practice in during the Air DH.

photo

Floriane Pugin
  Floriane Pugin

Mitch Delfs with a bit of style aboard his Undead.
  Mitch Delfs with a bit of style aboard his Undead.

Tuck and no brakes.
  Tuck and no brakes.

photo

Kinda nice to see Cedric Gracia here in Whistler.
  Kinda nice to see Cedric Gracia here in Whistler.

Bryn Atkinson with the scrub...
  Bryn Atkinson with the scrub...

Chris Kovarik pleasing the crowd
  Chris Kovarik pleasing the crowd

Loic Bruni on the rock drop on A-Line.
  Loic Bruni on the rock drop on A-Line.

Troy Brosnan had to take a quick break to cut down some cardboard on the side of the track.
  Troy Brosnan had to take a quick break to cut down some cardboard on the side of the track.

photo
  Up top of the course, rumor had it that if anyone was going to dominate on a DH bike, it would be Sik Mik. First finisher on a full fledged DH rig. Mick isn't a stranger to pumping the big bike around. Just wait until World at Pietermaritzburg.

Not everyone was scrubbing or whipping the hits on A-line. Some riders were just keeping it low and fast.
  Not everyone was scrubbing or whipping the hits on A-line. Some riders were just keeping it low and fast.

But more than a few riders were doing anything but staying low.
  But more than a few riders were doing anything but staying low.

photo

Adam make me famous Ransausage put down the best combo s consisting of the following Massive whip on the first jump Nac Nac on the second and full fledged bar hump on the last. Bonus points all the way.
  Adam "make me famous" Ransausage put down the best combo's consisting of the following: Massive whip on the first jump, Nac Nac on the second and full fledged bar hump on the last. Bonus points all the way.

Stevie Smith s gonna win this hands down I m tellin ya
  'Stevie Smith's gonna win this hands down I'm tellin ya'

photo

Mont St Anne junior DH champ Loris Vergier keeps the bananas at bay with a high speed chainstay.
  Mont St Anne junior DH champ, Loris Vergier, keeps the bananas at bay with a high speed chainstay.

The Garbo DH winner decked out in all new Fox threads heading onto 8th today. Trail bikes were definitely the ticket over full DH.
  The Garbo DH winner decked out in all new Fox threads heading onto 8th today. Trail bikes were definitely the ticket over full DH.

Jill Kintner on fire crushing the women s field. 1 race down three to go.
  Jill Kintner on fire crushing the women's field. 1 race down, three to go.

And the crowd goes wild... Smith out in front shredding the brand new carbon Troy to second consecutive Canadian victory.
  And the crowd goes wild... Smith out in front, shredding the brand new carbon Troy to second consecutive Canadian victory.

Couldn t ask for a better day to launch the Devinci Troy 650B Carbon.
  Couldn't ask for a better day to launch the Devinci Troy 650B Carbon.

photo

Mustache power for the win. Fresh of his MSA win Stevie showed his home crowd his finest.
  Mustache power for the win. Fresh of his MSA win, Stevie showed his home crowd his finest.

Pro Women s podium Emmeline Ragot in second Jill Kintner in first and Floriane Pugin in third.
  Pro Women's podium: Emmeline Ragot in second, Jill Kintner in first, and Floriane Pugin in third.

Mick Hannah taking second on the day Steve Smith with the win and Nick Beer with third.
  Mick Hannah taking second on the day, Steve Smith with the win, and Nick Beer with third.


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85 Comments
  • 96 0
 It seems the key to getting on the podium for the men is wearing red, black, and yellow. Nice to know.
  • 22 2
 Being a national champion seems to help too...
  • 8 1
 Black and yellow by themselves seems to work as well.
  • 7 19
flag JPMTBTEAM (Aug 15, 2013 at 4:17) (Below Threshold)
 Well its the german flag so that would make sense...
  • 25 0
 Red is ten extra hp. Some even say fifteen.
  • 15 41
flag TheFireSermon (Aug 15, 2013 at 5:28) (Below Threshold)
 "Kinda nice to see Cedric Gracia here in Whistler", you my friend are an IDIOT of a writer Colin! IT'S GREAT TO SEE CG!!!
  • 8 1
 @TheFireSermon: I want you to say sorry for Mr.Meagher. Unacceptable behavior against such a talented photografer like him.
  • 4 0
 You can't forget about the mustach
  • 3 0
 Dont forget the hats, all have something in common.
  • 2 1
 who won
  • 4 0
 that's funny, no one seems to be talking smack about how 26" is the 'only way to go' and 'anything/everything else sucks'! lol who cares what size wheels you ride, just ride your F'n mnt bike!! Smile
congrats Steve Smith for killin it!!
  • 36 1
 From this day forth, when people talk of mythical moustaches, they will say Burt Reynolds, Tom Selleck, Ron Burgundy, Steve Smith.
  • 25 9
 I thing there is a wee bit of discrimination between the women's and men's prize money. How do they justify that. Same fucSmile ing track.
  • 7 4
 I know its hard to justify but its like saying formula 1 drivers should be payed the same as touring car drivers. The mens field is much deeper. But they are both very talanted.
  • 16 13
 No it's not! When athletes who are competing on the same course, on the same bikes and under the same organisation, how on earth can pay inequality be justified?
  • 5 1
 @jono21

You might have to explain that comparison. I'm not sure wht you're implying about touring car drivers... or women.
  • 30 12
 Watching females race bikes is not as good as watching guys, they don't go as fast, they don't pull as many cool moves and it's not as competitive. Drop men from an event and watch the viewer numbers fall, drop women and it won't make much difference. So the viewing numbers and product exposure are driven by the guys so they deserve more. That's not sexist, it's just the way it is.
  • 14 28
flag TheGoose (Aug 15, 2013 at 4:46) (Below Threshold)
 'that's the way it is.'
So should we neglect a very basic level of morality in exchange for patriarchy and consumerism? That is only 'the way it is' because people unquestioningly accept it to be so.
  • 20 3
 It's not sexism, there are simply less riders in the female cat, so taking a win is marginally easier.
  • 38 2
 Want to equalize? Put all of the women in the mens field and let them compete for the bigger paychecks. If that's not the kind of equality we want, then make the winnings a percentage of the entry fees. 300 men enter the race and 35 women - seems you might end up with a disparity in winnings, no? Point is, if the womens field is smaller, we shouldn't get rankled by smaller checks on the podium.
  • 7 24
flag portlyone (Aug 15, 2013 at 5:46) (Below Threshold)
 Maybe there are less riders in the women's category because of the lower reward?
  • 22 1
 Or there are less women in the pro field because male mt bikers outnumber women 75:1.
  • 10 6
 Herzalot is on point.

It would be INEQUALITY to men if women got paid the same for going SLOWER. The only truly fair thing to do is have a single male/female class.
  • 2 6
flag jono21 (Aug 15, 2013 at 6:33) (Below Threshold)
 @jackclark89

I'm trying to say that the mens downhill class is the pinnacle of downhill racing just as formula 1 is the pinnacle of motor-racing. Touring car racing is just as competitive and skill full as formula one but not pushing the limits, thats why its mainly men who decide the geometry on prototypes.
  • 5 1
 Keep in mind that there are many more dudes buying bikes. When they see guys race, they wanna own the bike the winner rode down the hill. When they see women race, they think tits'n'ass. So guys effectively sell more bikes. On top of that the talent pool is deeper for guys so they wind up having to pay more for the cream of the crop. It sure sucks for girls.
  • 3 1
 Simple, Simple...... It's not about consumerism or men are are more exciting to watch so they get a bigger purse.

If the women want the big bucks....they can race the men in the pro men's division. If they win...they get the big $$ amount. However, if UCI doesn't allow women to race in the men's division THEN it is sexism, inequality and unjust.
  • 6 0
 Anyone who understands action sports would never question lower cash prizes for women...

In the same race on the same track a men's pro/open cat has a higher cash prize than a MENS amateur cat.... do you think that's prejudice against am men? No, you simply get paid less if you aren't as good at biking.
  • 1 0
 It reminds me of the whole female driver's insurance thing. Everybody cried 'SEXISM' because women's premiums were half what men's were, when in actual fact women had half the accidents men had and so were less likely to have an accident. It's political correctness gone retarded.
  • 5 0
 And still girls like Anne Caro managed to beat like 80% of the mens pro class in the Enduro...
  • 2 0
 Anne slayed it and could crush me in an enduro don't get me wrong... but her time would have put her in like 57th place in open men's. Soooo, I don't see your point.
  • 2 2
 back in the day i was racing dh ds. in my very first ds race, in fact first time on a ds track and bike i have literally never ridden i qualified with a time faster than Melissa Buhl's. for the younger folks she was the reigning US naitonal DS (and DH) Champion.

it baffles me that as an amateur racer in cat1 (expert back then) i was faster than the nations fastest women.
  • 4 0
 It's not just about sexism. Woman should get an equal prize money because we want more women riding! Women are 51% of the population, yet are less likely to ride. Better prizes equal a better field (because it's easier to make a living) , A better field inspires more girls to ride and the whole industry wins!
Don't know about you guys, but I'm keen to see more girls on the trail!
  • 1 0
 Better prize money won't get more women to race. If your logic was sound, there woudn't be many men eiher because not that long ago, purse for wining a pro men's dh sucked too. What will get more woman to race is to get more woman to ride. To do that, the bike manufactures would need to put more money into building woman specific bikes and then target women more in their advertising
  • 1 0
 Of course prize money is only one piece of the puzzle. For example manufactures play a much larger role, they have to keep trying to find new ways to market to the fairer sex (Painting a men's bike pink won't cut it). But mo' money adds prestige to the series and will help our female riders push it to the next level.
  • 1 4
 It is significantly easier to make a living as a female athlete in just about any action sport than it is as a male athlete. The last thing we need to do is make it easier for them.
  • 3 0
 Ironxcross what planet are you living on. My post has sweet fa to do with mountain biking or any sport. It's simply a case of equal rights. If you work in a job with someone who does the same job should they be payed less?.
I think women's sports are every bit as hard a men's, mtb for example ,same tracks same bikes teams etc. I would have thought been and American the nation who blabs on about land of the free and all that would set the standard and pay its women mtber,s the f*ck-- ing same.
  • 2 0
 Ok sure. If a man and woman both have sales jobs and sell the same amount every month, I agree they should be paid the same amount (give or take more or less for seniority). And if the woman sells more, she should make more money. And vice versa.

If you want to relate bike racing to normal jobs, then ya if women ride the same course on the same bikes at the same speed as men they should and would get paid the same. But they don't. If a woman works in a sales department selling half as much as her male colleague (NOT saying this is because women are bad at selling, I just have to make this example relevant to our discussion) would you say it is unfair to pay her less? My point is women perform differently than men and are compensated accordingly. Through sponsors and outside endorsement the top women are still plenty capable of making a living out of it.

Equality means everyone has the same opportunities, not the same compensation regardless of what they accomplish. Your'e confusing equality of socialism I think.
  • 2 0
 When you get down to the simple thing is that the women 'work' in a different environment to the men in extreme sports. You can't compare it to men and women working in an office because they are on equal terms and there is no competition. The fact that there are way more men in any extreme sports league means that the odds of one guy taking the win would be higher, say 1 in 75, whereas for women the odds might only be 1 in 15 so any woman has more chance of winning than any man.
  • 3 1
 You fellas here at the bottom seem to be failing to take into account the different environment women 'work' in throughout the action sports industry -- one where objectifying us is not only accepted, but it's the norm; lack of respect/support as opposed to more conventional careers and less pay for similar risks. Would you say that Rachel Atherton is putting any less on the line than her brothers? Or that she has less to deal with publicly than her brothers? What about training? Does she train less? Ride less? Why then, should she make any less? She also deals with the unspoken rules of what a woman can/cannot be inside of biking, what she's allowed to say without being ostracized and more.

So tell me again how inequality is totally fair. This is not a sales job. For many of us professional women, it's our lives. We sacrifice no less, work just as hard and ride as well as we possibly can only to get shafted in many situations. Sure, it's usually easier to podium in our sport than the men can as there aren't a ton of us, but there are tradeoffs we make than men do.
  • 1 1
 @ambatt, do you think that Jr Women work as hard as Pro Women? Then should they get the same reward as the Pro Women because they work just as hard, even though they don't produce the same results as the Pro Women (ride slower)?
  • 1 2
 it's fair because its easier for you to make podiums. the only inequality boundaries are the ones you created for yourselves. i'm not out to offend anyone, but the only real sexism I ever see is when a woman is not on the metaphorical top spot and disregards whatever logical explanation instead playing the feminism card. I'm definitely not saying this is true of all women, just in my experience. The reason unspoken rules are unspoken is because they don't exist and I for one don't care how female athletes choose to present themselves. do you think Rachel Atherton is payed less by the same sponsors as her brothers? she makes less off a win because is it easier for her to win, not because girls are weak and feeble or any bullshit like that. what does this have to do with the fox air dh anyway?
  • 2 2
 @taldfind, the juniors and cat 1 racers make less not because they train less or put any less effort into it but because the pro men and women have either been in the sport longer (have more experience, years paying their dues, more collateral damage, etc) or have EARNED their pro category placement through finishes and thus, the prize purses. The top women are still the top athletes of their sport. They deserve no less respect and purses than the men, because they are the best of their best.
  • 3 0
 Ambatt well said. The majority of guys spouting here couldn't keep up with the junior women never mind the pro category. Men and women should be payed the same or are we trying to revert back to the sixties.
  • 1 0
 True equality? Men and women racing the same category.

All the pros work hard. Not all of them get the results. Women work as hard as men > can't get better results than men in a mixed category > don't win anything.

Please respond.
  • 1 0
 I don't know, it's not fair to put women and men in the same cat because men are stronger than women genetically, more natural muscle mass etc.
  • 2 0
 Rachel Atherton is incredible, but she sure as shit doesn't have to go as fast as Gee to get podiums. The sales job was an analogy, expand your mind.
  • 14 0
 Wasn't Mick Hannah supposed to wear the winning design from the Bell Blank Canvas Contest for the Crankworx ???
  • 2 1
 Yes, but at the end he made one by himself! Big Grin
  • 1 0
 It's the same he already had...
  • 1 0
 barzaka. Im pretty sure that was just a joke caption about how muddy he had gotten his helmet.
  • 4 0
 Bell just wanted free designs. And they got some great ones...
  • 1 0
 He lost it in the pub the night before.
  • 7 0
 Mik's photo is one of the best i have ever seen, you can really feel the spirit of the sport in that. SIK MIK!!!!!!!!!!!!(good catch Margus)
  • 6 0
 More amateur coverage would be nice.
  • 9 0
 agreed, this coverage is way to professional. Wink
  • 1 0
 Haha that's 3am grammar for ya!
  • 4 0
 Why are all these pros riding full on DH bikes? It seems like they would be far faster aboard a 4X bike...
  • 3 1
 You'd be surprised what works. Most of them were running lower compound tires for better rolling resistance too, btw, which would help a fuck load with it.
  • 2 0
 Do you mean higher compound? Or maybe lower profile?
  • 5 0
 They had to fly out right after MSA and only had their big bikes with them as all the team trucks are 4 days drive away
  • 1 2
 I'm no pro, but I am much faster down aline on my SX than I am on my Demo. Seems like they would only be able to shave more time off with a lower profile bike. And why not just fly with two bikes? Leaving their other bikes in MSA isn't really necessary.
  • 1 0
 Depends what they have available, what they are comfortable on, and how they set it up - Like Downhiller mentioned, it looked like riders were using lighter wheels and hard compound tires, single ply, and cutting them down to near slick centres to help reduce rolling resistance/weight to help them accelerate and roll faster. Also stiffening up suspension.
  • 2 0
 Sure, mgm1, all the pros can just fly from one coast to the other with two bikes... No problem at all. Everyone seems to forgot that very few of the pros actually have everything paid for. Do you know what it costs to fly with a single bike, let alone two??
  • 1 0
 sending to flat hurts a lot more on a trail/freeride bike... therefore on a dh bike you can send it deeper, wich means you can go faster maybe?
  • 1 0
 if your trying to carry speed over jumps the worst thing you can do is send to flat, it could be as simple as riding the bike they're most comfortable on
  • 1 0
 Think we was referring to the rock drop.
  • 2 0
 I watched Brian Lopes' helmet cam of the course and it's a lot rougher than it was when I was there. I would have gone for the DH bike for the sake of my hands too hahha
  • 2 0
 Is all of the stuff at the park like a bmx track? Any natural downhill runs left? Would like to make a trip out there but not to ride a bunch of groomed trails.
  • 1 0
 Most certainly not.. The tracks that are well groomed are A line, B line, Crank It up and Blue Velvet. You still got the Canadian open track, Original Sin, Angry Pirate and there's a few blue runs which are okay which I think from memory was Ninja cougar I think. You've also got Top Of The World which is a new track but the ticket for that is a separate purchase and you can only do it once a day. When I was in Whistler it took me a good two hours to get down once you count in looking at the views and such. And trust me, even the groomed tracks get rutted out to shit so you might enjoy it who knows lol. Be lucky that you've got such a place so close to home. For me I have to come from the other end of the world. It's an expensive trip..
  • 1 0
 Ah, crappydicrap. Now I know the Smith-Stache won the race, although I wanted to watch the replay. Ah whatever. Grats, Stevie!
  • 3 1
 Great result mick. Had a few words with him at andorra. Super nice guy.down to earth
  • 2 1
 And a win for 650B... the bike reviewed yesterday morning in fact, Steve Smith rode his personal Troy and not the DH bike he used a few days ago at MSA.
  • 3 0
 Why no pics of the whips for tits jump? Wink
  • 5 0
 You mean like this one www.vitalmtb.com/photos/features/Crankworx-Whistler-Air-DH,6214/Whips-4-Tits-at-Crankworx-Air-DH,61492/davetrumpore,1982, elegantly censured by Vital...
  • 2 0
 loving all the colour coordination going on on the podium
  • 1 0
 Congrats Stevie Smith.
Holy shit those roads(trails?) look boring!
Fun to watch the race. Where are the trails?
  • 2 0
 Sick photos!
  • 1 0
 So what was that bike Nick Beer was riding ?
  • 1 0
 I just uploaded a close up for you to see his Devinci he was riding. a href='http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/9970297/'>http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/9970297//a> I can't seem to match up the name of it from their site. www.devinci.com/bikes/scategory_84
  • 1 0
 Link to close up again is a href="http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/9970297">http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/9970297/a>
  • 1 0
 Ha Ha where's all the 26" wheel Nazi's now?
  • 1 0
 Right here. Steve Smith didn't win because of being on 650B, he won because he was on the right type of bike(trail/AM) and because hes Steve Smith!
  • 1 0
 Sweet Photographys. A lot of talent. Lame commenters.
  • 1 1
 the mens podium and the other mens podium
  • 2 4
 that barhump would've been sick if it were,nt for the ankle socks .. who ever invented them should be shot !!







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